Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse, or sexual violence, describes any type of sexual activity that is unwanted. There are many different types of abuse, including those we’re more familiar with (such as rape and child sexual abuse) and those we may be less aware of (like female genital mutilation and sexual exploitation).

Sexual abuse can happen to anyone, at any stage of their lives. No one ever deserves it or ‘asks for it’. On this page we will look at how being abused in this way can make you feel, the power of talking and how to look after your mental health.

What is sexual abuse?

Sexual abuse happens when someone is forced or pressured into taking part in any type of sexual activity.

This includes being forced to have sex (rape), being sent sexual messages/images against your will (sexting) or being touched in a sexual way without your permission (sexual assault).

This type of abuse can also involve being forced to have sex with someone in return for money (sexual exploitation), being bullied in a sexual way (sexual harassment) or being forced to take part in ritual abuse (female genital mutilation).

Key statistics

If you’ve experienced sexual violence, you may feel very alone. This is not the case. There are thousands of people who have gone through similar experiences and there is a huge amount of support out there. The most important thing is to speak up and not to suffer in silence.

Here are some statistics about sex abuse in the UK:

It is estimated that 85,000 women and 12,000 men are raped in England and Wales every year.

Of those who experience sexual abuse, only 15% choose to report it to the police.

1 in 5 women aged 16-59 has experienced some form of sexual violence.

These figures come from An Overview of Sexual Offending in England and Wales, the first ever joint official statistics bulletin on sexual violence released by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Home Office in January 2013.

Understanding consent

Giving consent means giving permission to someone. Sexual abuse takes place when consent is not given.

According to the law, a person consents to sexual activity if they:

agree by choice

have the capacity to make that choice

What you were doing, how you were dressed and whether or not you were under the influence of drugs/alcohol does not matter - if you did not give consent, or did not have the capacity to, you were abused. And this is not your fault.

If you said yes because you were scared for your safety (or someone else’s safety), it wasn’t your fault. If you didn’t say the word ‘no’ or couldn’t speak through shock, it wasn’t your fault. If you were unconscious through alcohol/drugs, it wasn’t your fault.

You're a survivor because every day you make a choice not to be governed by their harsh words or actions. No one has the right to take away your happiness.

- Assunta Harris, A Sheep Amongst Wolves

How being abused can make you feel

Experiencing sexual violence can lead to a number of different emotions. There is no right or wrong way to feel. You may experience some (or all) of the following:

Numb - The shock and trauma of sexual abuse can make you feel numb to it. You may find yourself feeling strangely calm, or simply unable to process what has happened.

Guilty - You may be telling yourself that it was your fault, even though it wasn’t.

Angry - Feeling anger is common, you may feel anger at the person who did this to you, or even at yourself.

Ashamed - You may feel embarrassed and ashamed about what happened, even though it was not your fault and totally out of your control.

Depressed - You may lose your enjoyment of life, feeling like there’s nothing to look forward to anymore.

Anxious - Activities you used to do without a second thought may now make you feel anxious, like going out alone.

The power of talking

Many people find rape and other forms of sexual abuse difficult to talk about. It is a dark subject that we, as a society, can shy away from. Shying away from subjects like this however only contributes to myths and misinformation about sex abuse. It can also make survivors of sex abuse worried about speaking up.

The more we talk about what’s happening, and the more we spread messages of support and awareness, the more we can fight against this. By doing this we can also encourage survivors to talk about what happened to them.

We’re big believers in the power of talking - whether it’s with a friend or family member, with a support group or with a professional.

Looking after your mental health

It’s normal for your mental health to be affected after being the victim of sexual abuse. It is a traumatising experience that often requires support to come to terms with. Looking after your mental health is just as important as looking after your physical health.

For many, speaking to a counsellor helps. Counsellors who help survivors are trained to help with the psychological effects of sexual violence. This may include low confidence levels, anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.

You can speak to a counsellor at any time - even if you experienced sexual abuse many years ago. Some people live with the effects of an event that happened in their childhood, especially if they didn’t (or couldn’t) seek support when it happened. Talking about these effects with a professional can help you process past emotions.

Sexual abuse in men

While it is not as common (or perhaps, as commonly reported) sexual abuse happens to men too. Unfortunately many men find it difficult to talk about, especially if they have been abused by a woman. They may worry that they aren’t going to be believed or that they don’t deserve support. This is not true.

If you have been abused, reach out. If you’re not ready to talk to someone, you know you can speak to a counsellor. There are also resources and support groups online that are set up specifically to help male survivors of sex abuse, including:

Child sex abuse

When sexual abuse happens in childhood, it is known as child sex abuse. Under this umbrella there are two types of abuse, contact abuse (when an abuser makes physical contact with a child) and non-contact abuse (when non-touching activities take place like exploitation or being shown pornography).

In the UK, one in 20 children have been sexually abused. Understandably, this can have a huge impact on the child’s mental health and well-being. To find out more about child sex abuse, including keeping your child safe and getting support, we recommend visiting dedicated support networks like the NSPCC and Childline.

What to do if you’ve just been abused

If you’ve just been sexually abused, try to remember that it is not your fault and that you are not alone. The Rape Crisis website has some advice about what to do immediately after being abused, including how to report it to the police.

What should I be looking for in a counsellor or psychotherapist?

Currently there are no official rules or regulations that stipulate what level of training a counsellor supporting sexual abuse survivors needs. However, there are several accredited courses, qualifications and workshops available to counsellors that can improve their knowledge of this area.

With this in mind, where possible it is always recommended that you check to see if they have had further training in matters of sexual abuse.

Another way to assure they have undergone this type of specialist training is to check if they belong to a relevant professional organisation representing counsellors dealing with sexual abuse.

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